Month: July 2017

As a leader, there is no question that the goals you set for your team members are of ultimate importance. High performance, growth, and development all come from effective goals and efficient tracking of accomplishments. A common approach to these ‘large goals’ in most companies is a regular cadence of some sort (quarterly, annual etc.). Often compensation increases and performance ratings all tied to these goals as well…

We can talk about the complexities of these topics (and how they all connect together) a different time… But first, let’s tackle a really common problem when managing an engaged, high performing employee.

The problem is this: there is so much work done in between, or outside of, those goals set on a regular cadence. How do we account for all that work, and all the “stuff” being done? I mean, it wouldn’t be fair to exclude it entirely when talking about performance rating, compensation, promotion and career development, right?

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?

Here’s a simple idea I’m going to try on my team. The concept is like a “journal” of sorts – capture stuff you have done over a period of time, and when it comes time to look back/review, you can have one simple document that allows a thorough view of performance.

The template looks like this (we are using a shared Google doc, but many different formats could work):

There are three simple sections:

Opportunities – what has come up that needs to be done? What chances have I had to do great work, and contribute in a meaningful way, that isn’t necessarily captured by my regularly scheduled goals?

Contributions – what did I do when these opportunities came up? How did I “grab the bull by the horns” and demonstrate my skill and perseverance?

Outcomes – what was the ultimate result of the work I did? What positive impact did I have? (this one is really important)

So, if you manage really good employees who are doing great things but may have a hard time capturing it, give this template a shot!

Please share feedback below! I would love to share stories with others who may be in a similar situation!